The fifth year of modern Israel’s existence as an independent state was ushered in officially on Mount Herzl, overlooking Jerusalem, last night when Speaker of the Knesset Joseph Sprinzak ignited the first in a nation-wide chain of torches.
For the first time since the State was proclaimed, the torch lighting ceremony was extended and 12 representatives of Jewish communities abroad each lighted his torch on behalf of his community. The Jewries of such scattered countries as Yemen, Poland, South Africa and the United States participated in the revival of the centuries-old custom of lighting torches on all holidays.
After the torches were ignited, the national flag was raised and then lowered again to half-mast in memory of those who fell in the war. Military units and representative groups of the Gadna, youth movement, saluted as the flag was raised. Three salvoes were fired and then a miles-long procession of Hatikvah-singing men, women and children, preceded by torch-bearing members of the Gadna movement, paraded down Mt. Herzl and into the streets of the city. The flag-bedecked streets were soon filled with milling, dancing and singing crowds.
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